Energies 2015, 8, 921-938; doi:10.

3390/en8020921
OPEN ACCESS

energies
ISSN 1996-1073
www.mdpi.com/journal/energies
Article

Educational Project for the Teaching of Control of Electric

Traction Drives
Pablo Moreno-Torres 1,*, Marcos Blanco 2, Marcos Lafoz 2 and Jaime R. Arribas 1
1

Electrical Engineering Department, Universidad Politcnica de Madrid, 28006 Madrid, Spain;

E-Mail: jaime.rodriguez@upm.es
Electrical Engineering Department, Centro de Investigaciones Energticas,
Medioambientales y Tecnolgicas (CIEMAT), 28037 Madrid, Spain;
E-Mails: marcos.blanco@ciemat.es (M.B.); marcos.lafoz@ciemat.es (M.L.)

* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: pablo.morenotorres.05@gmail.com;

Tel.: +34-91-335-7194.
Academic Editor: K. T. Chau
Received: 3 November 2014 / Accepted: 13 January 2015 / Published: 28 January 2015

Abstract: Electric vehicles constitute a multidisciplinary subject that involves

disciplines such as automotive, mechanical, electrical and control engineering. Due to
this multidisciplinary technical nature, practical teaching methodologies are of special
relevance. Paradoxically, in the past, the training of engineers specializing in this area has
lacked the practical component represented by field tests, due to the difficulty of accessing
real systems. This paper presents an educational project specifically designed for the
teaching and training of engineering students with different backgrounds and experience.
The teaching methodology focuses on the topology of electric traction drives and their
control. It includes two stages, a simulation computer model and a scaled laboratory
workbench that comprises a traction electrical drive coupled to a vehicle emulator.
With this equipment, the effectiveness of different traction control strategies can be
analyzed from the point of view of energy efficiency, robustness, easiness of
implementation and acoustic noise.
Keywords: battery electric vehicle; electric traction drive; electric powertrain control;
electrical engineering education

Energies 2015, 8

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1. Introduction
In the last decade, electric vehicles (EVs) have experienced a continuous and noteworthy
improvement in their performance. Nowadays, electric automobiles have the potential to become a
feasible alternative to conventional internal combustion vehicles, especially in urban environments.
As EV technology develops, better performance is expected, and therefore more specific power
electronics converters and more sophisticated control strategies are imposed on these systems.
Since this technological demand must be fulfilled within the educational community, it is the
responsibility of niversities to teach and train future engineers on this matter, although it is also very
desirable that the industry collaborates with this process for mutual benefit.
Mainly due to the difficulty in accessing this kind of drive in a real vehicle, studies on electric traction
technologies are typically based on theoretical lessons, while practical application of the fundamental
concepts is required for a realistic active learning experience [1]. In most educational centers, this
practical experience has been carried out only by means of computer simulation models [2,3], without
the benefits brought by the actual machines and by the performance of field tests in the laboratory [4].
To overcome the limitations of the abovementioned methodologies, a laboratory-based platform is
proposed in this paper. Similar works have already been published for other engineering applications,
such as programmable and configurable embedded systems [5], electrical drives control [6,7] and wind
generators control [8,9]. The work presented in [5] shows how these kind of project-based learning
methods may improve teaching in multidisciplinary systems, while [8,9] are examples of teaching
methodologies combining simulation and a laboratory test bench.
This paper describes a complete system dedicated to the teaching and training of engineering
students on the control of electric traction drives. The work has been developed within the Polytechnic
University of Madrid in collaboration with CIEMAT, a public research center focused on the transfer
of knowledge between researchers and industry.
2. Teaching Objectives and General Approach
The main objectives of the proposed educational project are to complement the theoretical lessons
regarding traction drives and their control, to motivate the students interest in topics covered in those
lectures and to introduce them to the design process of control strategies for EVs. In terms of technology,
the project exposes students to devices currently used in EVs, such as batteries, power converters and
traction machines, which they will meet in the industry. Besides, the course also covers some design
tools for new control strategies.
The educational project targets Masters degree students in the field of mechanical, electrical or
electronic engineering. It was designed as part of an already existing 40-h course in EVs. The proposed
teaching methodology comprises two different learning levels:
(1) A basic level, consisting in a computer simulator based on electrical models of the different
components of the drive: energy storage system, power electronics converters, electrical
machine and the vehicle itself. A first learning stage includes a series of exercises designed to
introduce the students to the system. In a second stage, the students develop their own control
strategies based on simulations.

Energies 2015, 8

923

(2) An advanced level, consisting in a reduced scale emulator of the powertrain of an electric
vehicle. This emulator is a laboratory workbench that includes a DC voltage source, two power
electronics inverters, and two electric motors, one to emulate the inertia and motion resistances
of the vehicle and the other the traction machine itself. Using this equipment, and always assisted
by a supervisor, the students can test the control strategies developed in the previous stage.
During the development of this system and its associated training methodology, especial focus was
put on three remarkable and differentiating aspects of EV teaching:
(1) Electric vehicles are a multidisciplinary subject. Therefore, students with different backgrounds
(from mechanical to electronic engineering) had to be taken into account.
(2) A smooth learning curve was desirable, which meant carefully planning the progression of the
different exercises within the course.
(3) The course had to be as practical as possible. In this sense, it was not enough to show the
students a laboratory platform. Higher interaction with the test bench was desired.
Despite its educational focus, the proposed computer and laboratory platforms were designed for
both research and teaching purposes. In this sense, the system is also suitable for testing new control
strategies in electrical traction drive research.
3. Technology Overview: Powertrain of a Battery Electric Vehicle
The powertrain of a vehicle includes all the necessary components used to transform stored energy
into kinetic energy for propulsion purposes. In a rechargeable electric automobile, this always includes
the on-board energy storage system (usually batteries, but sometimes a combination of batteries and
ultracapacitors [10]), one or more bidirectional power electronics converters (usually two, one DC/DC
converter and one inverter or DC/AC converter), and one or more rotatory electrical machines [11,12].
Other elements such as differentials or additional gears are also present depending on the powertrain
topology. Figure 1 shows one of the most common powertrain topologies found in battery EVs,
which is the one studied in this work.

Figure 1. Powertrain topology of a battery electric vehicle used in this paper.

Given the above topology, the control strategy is as follows:
(1) The DC/AC converter works as a voltage source inverter. By means of this converter,
both machine flux and machine torque are controlled, either directly or indirectly. The power

Energies 2015, 8

924

needed by the motor is instantaneously drawn from the DC link, unless the drive is performing
a regenerative braking, in which case power will be delivered to the DC link.
(2) The DC/DC converter works as a conventional buck-boost converter. It dynamically adapts
the battery voltage to the DC link voltage while supplying the power needed by the inverter.
In traction drives, the DC voltage is usually higher than the battery voltage. The DC voltage
may be constant or not, depending on the switching strategy selected for the inverter.
In this work, this same topology was chosen for the educational platform because it is one of
the most extensively used traction technologies and because it is highly suitable for the implementation
of advanced control features.
4. Simulation-Based Teaching Platform
4.1. Simulation Model
The first training tool developed within this educational project is a computer model in Matlab
Simulink. This model represents the powertrain of a battery electric vehicle and includes all the
elements already mentioned. The algorithms and mathematical models employed in this simulation
model are especially robust and simple, so that they are accessible to the students. Figure 2 shows
a screenshot of the root level of the model.

Figure 2. Simulation model (root level). Arrows represent either Simulink signals or
SimPowerSystems connections.
The model has two main parts, as indicated in Figure 2. The energy storage part on the left includes
the battery, the DC/DC converter and its corresponding control. This part can be replaced by an ideal
DC voltage source in order to simplify the model at the beginning of the learning process. The motor
part in the right includes the inverter, the traction machine, the control system and the vehicle itself,
modeled as an equivalent load in terms of mass, inertia and motion resistances.
The following paragraphs describe the mathematical models implemented within each one of the
blocks in Figure 2, from left to right.

Energies 2015, 8

925

4.1.1. Battery Stack

The battery model is a modification of the generic model provided by Mathworks in the
SimPowerSystems library of Simulink [13], which was first proposed in [14]. That model is actually
a simplification of the highly accepted model described in [15], which in turn is based on an equivalent
electrical circuit. The advantages of the model used in this work are its easiness-to-use, its accuracy
given its simplicity, and its dynamic behavior. Namely, the battery is modeled as depicted in Figure 3,
the equations being as follows:
100
SoC
1) A eBQMAX (1 100)
SoC
100
R POL,discharge = f(SoC) = K
SoC
1
R POL,charge = f(SoC) = K
SoC
1.1
100

E = f(SoC) = E0 K Q MAX (

(1)
(2)
(3)

where: U: battery instantaneous voltage (V); i: battery current (A), i > 0 when discharging and i < 0
during recharge; SoC: battery state of charge (%); RSELF: self-discharge resistance (); ROHM: ohmic
internal resistance (); RPOL: polarization internal resistance (); CPOL: polarization capacitor (F);
E: open-circuit nonlinear voltage (V); E0: open-circuit constant voltage (V); K: polarization constant
(Ah1) or polarization resistance constant (); QMAX: maximum capacity (Ah); A: exponential voltage
(V); B: exponential capacity (Ah1).

Figure 3. Battery model included in the simulation platform.

According to the proposed lithium-ion battery model, the steady-state voltage is:
U = E (R OHM + R POL ) i

(4)

The proposed model differs from that in [14] in that it loses generality for the sake of simplicity,
since it is only valid for lithium-ion batteries. Besides, the internal resistance is modeled as two
different electrical resistances: ohmic resistance (constant) and polarization resistance (variable),
the latter being dependent on the SoC. An important advantage of the proposed model lies on
its formulation, which is easier to understand from a student point of view given that less variables
are involved.

Energies 2015, 8

926

4.1.2. DC/DC Converter and DC Link

The models for the power electronics converters are also based on power semiconductors
included in the SimPowerSystems library, namely the IGBT and the diode blocks [13]. The power
devices used in this work are those of the IGBT module SEMiX71GD12E4s by Semikron [16].
Both the DC/DC and the DC/AC converters use the same conventional three-phase IGBT bridge with
anti-parallel diodes (see Figure 4) [17]. Despite their similar topology, both converters have very
different functionality due to the way they are connected to the rest of the system and to how they are
controlled. Using the same topology in both converters helps the students to better understand the
power electronics involved in this system. The DC/DC converter works as a bidirectional multiphase
(interleaved topology) buck-boost converter [18], connecting to the batteries by means of three parallel
inductances (3 mH each).

Figure 4. Power electronics topology (simplified scheme).

Finally, the DC link is composed of a group of capacitors (1100 V, 0.5 mF) connected in parallel.
The equivalent total capacitance is 6 mF.
4.1.3. Inverter
The DC/AC converter is modeled the same way as the DC/DC converter. However, in this case
the converter works as a conventional three-phase current-controlled voltage source inverter (VSI),
as shown in Figure 4 [17,19].
4.1.4. Traction Machine
The electric motor model is suitable for any synchronous machine: permanent magnet synchronous
machine (PMSM), synchronous reluctance machine (SRM), or anything in between (such as permanent
magnet assisted SRM). The model is based in data extracted from finite element simulations and
laboratory tests, and takes saturation, cross coupling, copper and mechanical losses into account.
Therefore, only iron losses and 3D effects are neglected. The equations implemented in the model are
the following [20] (amplitude-invariant Clarke transformation [21]):

Energies 2015, 8

927
ud
d d
id
0
[u ] = R S [i ] + [ ] + elec [
q
1
q
dt q

d
1
] [ ]
0
q

(5)

3
p (d iq q id )
2
dmec
Tem Tload = J
+ B mec
dt
Tem =

(6)
(7)

where: ud, uq: stator voltages in dq reference frame (V); id, iq: stator currents in dq reference frame (A);
RS: stator winding resistance (); d, q: stator flux linkages in dq reference frame (Wb); elec: rotor
electrical speed (rad/s); Tem: electromagnetic torque (Nm); p: pole pairs (-); Tload: load torque (Nm);
J: total moment of inertia (kgm2); mec: rotor mechanical speed (rad/s); B: total friction (Nm/(rad/s)).
The above equations are complemented with two look-up tables (LUTs) that link stator currents to
flux linkages, as expressed by Equation (8), where S is the stator-current phasor angle:
d = f(IS , S ) = g(id , iq )

(8)

q = f(IS , S ) = g(id , iq )

These LUTs are machine-specific, and are calculated by means of finite element simulations [22].
Figure 5 depicts the LUTs for a 3.3 kW interior PMSM, which is the machine used in the test bench
described later in this paper and whose rated values are given in Table 1 (Section 5):
d-axis flux linkages (Wb)

q-axis flux linkages (Wb)

1.5
1
1.25
1

0.5

0.75

0.5

-0.5

0.25
-1
0
360

360
270

3
180
90

Theta ()

270

180

Is (p.u.)

Theta ()

90

1
0

2
1
0 0

Is (p.u.)

Figure 5. Interior PMSM LUTs relating stator current and flux linkages (simulation results).
The torque generated by that same PMSM is shown in Figure 6, along with the corresponding
maximum torque per ampere (MTPA) trajectory [20,23].

Energies 2015, 8

928
Torque (Nm)
2

40

30
20
MTPA

10
5

Is (p.u.)

1.5

0.5

180

165

150

135

120

105

0
90

Theta ()

Figure 6. Interior PMSM torque as a function of stator current and MTPA trajectory
(simulation results).
4.1.5. Vehicle and Motion Resistances
The vehicle model represents both the inertia of the vehicle and its motion resistances. These
include rolling resistance, aerodynamic drag and gradient resistance; the last one being of active nature
(may take negative values and contribute to the movement of the vehicle). Transmission losses are also
accounted for. The three motion resistances are modeled as follows [2427]:
FT = Faero + Froll + Fgrav
Faero =

(9)

1
AF CD (v vWIND )2 0
2

Froll = rod M g cos() > 0

with roll = roll,0 + roll,S v

2.5

Fgrav = M g sin() 0

(10)
(11)
(12)
(13)

where: FT: total motion resistance (N); Faero: aerodynamic resistance (N); Froll: rolling resistance (N);
Fgrav: gradient resistance (N); : air mass density (kg/m3); AF: vehicle frontal area (m2); CD: vehicle
drag coefficient (-); v: vehicle speed (m/s); vwind: headwind speed (positive in the same direction than
the vehicle) (m/s); M: total mass of the vehicle (kg); g: free fall acceleration (m/s2); : road slope
(positive when climbing) (); roll: rolling friction coefficient (-); roll,0: constant rolling friction
coefficient (-); roll,S: incremental rolling friction coefficient (-).
The load torque in Equation (7) is calculated from the total motion resistance in Equation (9) by
means of the following expression:
ERR
FT (traction mode)
iGEAR GEAR
ERR GEAR
=
FT (regenerative mode)
iGEAR

Tload =
T
{ load

(14)

where ERR (m) is the effective rolling radius (which is not the same as the loaded tire radius [28]);
iGEAR (-) is the transmission gear ratio and GEAR (-) is the transmission energy efficiency (assumed to
be constant and equal to 0.95 [25]).

Energies 2015, 8

929

Regarding the moment of inertia, the total inertia Jvehicle (kgm) as seen by the electric motor
is given by:
Jvehicle = Jhigh +

Jlow
iGEAR 2

M ERR2
iGEAR 2

(15)

where Jhigh and Jlow are the total rotatory inertia in the high speed shaft (motor shaft) and in the low
speed shaft (wheels shaft), respectively. Most of the vehicle inertia is given by its mass M.
The parameter values implemented in Equations (9) to (14) for the assembled test bench are given in
Table 1 (Section 5).
4.2. Control Strategies and Switching Techniques
The DC/DC converter dynamically adapts the battery voltage while keeping the DC link voltage
constant. The modulation strategy is PWM [17] with interleaving [18]. The interleaving technique
connects DC/DC converters in parallel (or different branches of the same converter, as in this case) to
share the power flow between two or more conversion chains. Its main advantages are constant
switching frequency, current ripple reduction and capacitor and inductor size/weight shrinkage [29].
The DC/DC control strategy is responsible for keeping the DC voltage constant regardless of
the power flow in the inverter, while protecting the battery from overcurrent, overcharge and
overdischarge. This is achieved by means of two cascaded PI control loops, the outer one for the DC
voltage and the inner one for the battery current.
Regarding the inverter, the modulation strategy is a conventional hysteresis-band current control
with single fixed band [19,30], which implies variable switching frequency. This modulation technique
is chosen as the initial approach because of its simplicity, robustness and lack of parameter dependence
and PID regulators. However, during the second stage of the simulation-based teaching process, the
students are asked to implement a different modulation technique in order to improve a specific feature
of the system, such as acoustic noise. Acoustic noise in motor drives is not often a main design goal,
but it should not be disregarded in EV applications because of its potential implications for passengers
and pedestrians alike. To achieve noise reduction, constant switching-frequency modulation strategies
are desirable, which leads the students towards improved hysteresis-band techniques and towards pulse
width modulation (PWM) and space vector modulation (SVM) techniques [19].
The machine control scheme has two levels. The upper level is the motion controller, which
determines a current reference [Id*, Iq*] in dq coordinates (rotor reference frame for PMSM and SRM)
from the torque reference value T* (output of the driving pedals block, input of the control scheme)
by means of a proportional controller. The lower level, the machine controller, is responsible for the
modulation technique. In this block, [Id*, Iq*] are first transformed into the corresponding phase
currents references [IR*, IS*, IT*], which are later compared to the actual phase currents [IR, IS, IT] to
perform the hysteresis-band current control [17]. In the model provided to the students, current
reference does not follow the MTPA trajectory depicted in Figure 6 (so Id* = 0 is used instead) [20]
and neither applies flux weakening above rated speed [23], so that there is room for improvement in
the control strategy.
Finally, the driving pedals block emulates the driver of the vehicle. In the laboratory test bench
described later in Section 5, these driving pedals are real and used by the students to drive the vehicle.

Energies 2015, 8

930

In the simulation, where there is no driver, this block generates a torque reference by means of
a PI controller, whose input is the speed error (calculated as the speed reference minus the actual speed).
In this sense, the human driver in the laboratory platform is replaced by a PI controller in the
simulation platform.
4.3. Teaching Methodology and Case Study
The teaching process starts with a preliminary exercise designed to familiarize the students with
the model and the control strategy. This exercise is done in teams of two students, and consists of
the following tasks:
(1) First, a modified version of the simulation model is delivered to the students. This model
includes at least one mistake (e.g., incorrect connections) that they must find and correct.
This way, the students are compelled to review the model in depth.
(2) Next, the students are asked to identify certain variables (e.g., Iq current) whose evolution they
must plot during different driving conditions. With this task, it is assumed that the students
understand how the traction drive works.
(3) Finally, a simple task is proposed to the students to make them modify the simulation model for
the first time. This task consists in implementing the MTPA trajectory (which is given to them)
in the control strategy. Once implemented, the students assess the performance of the drive by
comparing both control strategies in terms of torque capability and energy consumption.
After this, the students are challenged to improve either the control strategy and/or the switching
technique of at least one of the power converters. This way, the students are able to compare different
control strategies from different points of view: energy efficiency, motor dynamics or vehicle
response. Similarly, they also compare constant vs. variable switching frequency modulation
techniques, as abovementioned. This task is performed in teams of three students.
Each team is encouraged to try as many control strategies as wanted. At the end of the exercise,
every team proposes to the rest of the class one control improvement, chosen from those they have
tried in the simulations. These chosen modifications will be evaluated and reviewed by the teachers
before they are implemented in the laboratory test bench.
As an example of the simulation platform capabilities, a case study is presented next. Figure 7
shows the simulation results for the beginning of an urban Artemis cycle [31] with both MTPA disabled
and enabled. Data regarding the EV and its components (batteries, power converters and motor) is
contained in Table 1. The EV implemented in the simulation is the same as the one used in the
laboratory platform.
Figure 7a,b show the drive speed and torque, respectively. These results are the same for both
simulations (MTPA disabled and enabled). The motor torque depicted in Figure 7b is achieved either
by the Iq current in Figure 7c or by the Id and Iq currents in Figure 7f, the latter being of less RMS
value. Battery voltage and current are depicted in Figure 7d, while Figure 7e shows the switching
frequency for the inverter. Both Figure 7d and Figure 7e correspond to the simulation with MTPA
disabled (battery and switching frequency results with MTPA enabled are not shown for the sake
of space).

Energies 2015, 8

931

n*
n
10

122

20
30
(a) Time [s]

40

Ubat
Ibat

4
2

121.4

0
10

20
30
(d) Time [s]

40

50

Tem
0

121.6

50
6

121.8

121.2

-2

10

10

Tload
20
30
(b) Time [s]

Id

Iq

0
-2

40

50

10

4
Idq [A]

-5

Battery current [A]

250

10
Idq [A]

500

Battery voltage [V]

Torque [Nm]

750

Switching frequency [kHz]

Speed [rpm]

1000

20
30
(c) Time [s]
Id (MTPA)

40

50

Iq (MTPA)

2
0
-2

10

20
30
(e) Time [s]

40

50

10

20
30
(f) Time [s]

40

50

Figure 7. ARTEMIS driving cycle simulation. (a,b,f) With MTPA. (ae) Without MTPA.
Only the first 52 s are shown.
5. Laboratory-Based Teaching Platform
5.1. Test Bench Description and Operation
The second training tool developed within this educational project is a laboratory test bench.
This platform contains the same elements as the simulation model: batteries, two power converters and
the electric motor (the power scheme, topology and modulation techniques are the same as well).
The vehicle itself is replaced by another electric machineinduction machine (IM)that emulates
both the inertia and the resistive torque of the real vehicle. Figure 8 shows a picture of the test bench,
driving pedals included.

(a)

(b)

Figure 8. Laboratory test bench: (a) Electric cabinet containing three power electronic
converters, bench with a PMSM (traction machine) and a IM (emulator machine), and
driving pedals; (b) safety room for batteries and ultracapacitors.
Three power electronic converters are needed in the test bench because of the inclusion of the
vehicle emulator, which consists of the IM driven by a second inverter. Both inverters feed from the
same DC link, so that power is recirculated when any of the machines is in generator mode,

Energies 2015, 8

932

minimizing energy consumption from the batteries. Table 1 contains some rated values for the main
devices comprising the test bench.
Table 1. Teaching Laboratory Platform: Nominal Values.
Traction machine
Type
Interior PMSM
Power
3.3 kW
Speed
1500 rpm
Pole pairs
2
Voltage
400 VRMS
Stator current
4.84 ARMS
Inertia
0.0068 kgm2
Power converters
Type
IGBT module
DC voltage
380 VDC a
Current
60 ARMS
Switch. freq.
20 kHz (max)
Emulated EV
Type
Fictitious car
Total mass M
1200 kg
b
Max speed
51.3 km/h
ERR
0.25 m
iGEAR
17.544
GEAR
95%

Load machine (emulator)

Type
Squirrel cage IM
Power
2.2 kW
Speed
1420 rpm
Pole pairs
2
Voltage
400 VRMS
Stator current
4.84 ARMS
Inertia
0.0075 kgm2
Batteries
Type
NiMH c
Voltage (total)
120 V (10 12)
Capacity @C/3
100 Ah
Aerodynamics and rolling
Air density
1.2 kg/m3
AF
1.89 m2
CD
0.37
roll,0
0.0135
roll,S
0.0055

Both motors are operated with reduced voltage. Maximum speed under these circumstances (380 VDC,
no flux weakening) is 1000 rpm; b @1000 rpm, according to previous note; c For safety reasons, lithium
batteries are replaced by NiMH batteries in the laboratory test bench.

Similarly to the PMSM inverter, the modulation strategy for the IM inverter is also a conventional
hysteresis-band current control with single fixed band. The control scheme has two levels as well.
The lower level, the inverter controller, is responsible for the modulation technique. The upper level is
the torque controller, which determines a current reference [Isd*, Isq*] in dq coordinates (rotor magnetizing
current reference frame for the IM [20]) by means of the following expressions:
Isd = constant
Isq =

Tload + Tinertia
KT

(16)

where Tload (Nm) is given by Equation (14) and KT [Nm/A] is the torque constant of the IM (supposing
linearity; i.e., torque is directly proportional to q-axis current for a given d-axis current). Magnetizing
current Isd* is set to its rated value, so the torque provided by the IM is controlled by means of Isq
exclusively. Tinertia (Nm) is a fictitious torque that emulates the inertia of the vehicle, as expressed in:
Jemu = Jvehicle Jmot
Tinertia = Jemu

dmec
dt

(17)
(18)

Energies 2015, 8

933

where Jemu is the part of the inertia to be emulated, Jvehicle is the total inertia of the vehicle (as seen by
the traction machine) and Jmot is the actual inertia of the test bench (PMSM rotor + IM rotor + shaft).
5.2. Teaching Methodology and Case Study
In order to familiarize the students with the platform, a complete user guide for the system
operation is provided to them in advance. This guide contains the description and technical
characteristics of all the system components, so that they become familiar with the test bench even
before going to the laboratory. Once in the practical session, and always under supervision, the
students are asked to perform the following tasks:
(1) First, the students take turns to drive the virtual electric vehicle. They must follow a certain
urban driving cycle by controlling the drive speed via the accelerator and brake pedals.
This urban cycle lasts for one minute and consists in a few accelerations and brakings. In order
to increase motivation, each student is given a score that values their performance as drivers
once the driving cycle is finished (see example in Figure 9).
(b) Speed cycle with score 6.1

(a) Speed cycle with score 8.8

1200

1200
n*
n

800
600
400
200
0
-200
0

n*
n

1000

Speed (rpm)

Speed (rpm)

1000

800
600
400
200
0

10
15
Time (s)

20

-200
0

10
15
Time (s)

20

Figure 9. First exercise: 60-s driving cycle with pedals (only the first 23 s are shown).
(a) Good driver (score: 8.8/10); (b) Not so good a driver (score: 6.1/10).
The exact cycle that each student must follow is chosen randomly from four pre-defined cycles,
thus preventing them from memorizing the cycle. Each student drives the cycle two times: the first one
with the MTPA trajectory disabled (Id* = 0) and the second one with the MTPA enabled (Id* < 0).
This way, they can feel the difference between the two control strategies, as the second one is livelier
(i.e., the pedals need to be pressed more intensely in the first driving cycle). Besides, since the students
already modified the simulation to include the MTPA trajectory, this serves as an example of how the
simulation model may be used to develop new control strategies, which is precisely what they will do
in the last exercise described later in this section.
The PC controlling the test bench has two monitors. The first one displays all the information
needed by the driver (e.g., speed reference and actual speed, pedals statuses and score), while
the second one shows electrical magnitudes of interest (e.g., phase currents and dq currents of
both machines, motor torque and emulator torque). While one of the students is driving, the rest can
watch the evolution of these electrical magnitudes in the second screen and become familiar with the
system operation.

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(2) Next, each team implements their chosen control improvement in the test bench assisted
by the teacher. Since the control hardware is based on a dSPACE development board
(MicroAutoBox II) [32], almost no extra programming needs to be done to implement what
the students already developed in Simulink. The control interface, programmed in dSPACE
ControlDesk Next Generation, is also highly reusable, further shortening the implementation time.
(3) Finally, each team drives the urban cycle of the first exercise again, but with the control
modifications implemented in the previous point. Before driving, each team explains to the rest
what they have done and what improvement they expect to achieve. This way, all the students
learn from what each team has done, regardless of their success.
As an example of the platform capabilities, a case study is presented next. Figure 10 shows
laboratory results for the same vehicle and urban cycle that were implemented in the simulation
presented in previous section (Figure 7). Speed Figure 10a and PMSM currents Figure 10b are very
close to those obtained in the simulation. IM currents, responsible for generating the load torque,
are also depicted in Figure 10c.

500
n*
n
0

10

20
30
(a) Time [s]

40

50

IM currents [A]

PMSM currents [A]

Speed [rpm]

1000

2
0
-2
Id*
-4

10

Id
20
30
(b) Time [s]

Iq*
40

Iq
50

Id*
-5

10

Id
20
30
(c) Time [s]

Iq*
40

Iq
50

Figure 10. ARTEMIS driving cycle laboratory test (only the first 52 s are shown).
(a) Mechanical speed; (b) PMSM dq currents; (c) IM dq currents.
6. Teaching Results
6.1. Course Assessment
The proposed learning project have been applied to the EVs course (which is assessed annually)
during the last three years. The number of students was always very low, from 8 to 12. This was done
on purpose to better follow the course development and the students progression during the first years
after the implementation of the proposed activity. Overall, the teaching platform may be considered
successful, given that both the teachers and the students think that they have a better understanding of
an EV powertrain and its control since this educational project was included within the EVs course.
However, over these three years, some difficulties of practical nature have been observed. First,
the course cannot support a large number of students, given that it is very time-consuming for the
teachers, who need to dedicate a few hours to supervise each team of students. Secondly, the students
find it very difficult to think of possible control improvements beyond those suggested by the teachers,
despite what they had studied in more elementary courses. A lack of previous formation justifies this in
the case of mechanical engineering students. Thirdly, the number of hours the students need to
dedicate is higher than originally expected. This is because the level of understanding needed to
improve the control strategy is higher than the level of understanding needed just to analyze a certain
control strategy.

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935

6.2. Students Feedback

Students were asked to provide informal feedback at the conclusion of the practical class. Their
answers indicated that the activity was interesting, very powerful from the learning point of view but
probably too time-consuming. The most common issue reported by the students is the high workload.
Besides, the students were asked to answer an anonymous questionnaire (yes/no answer) with
four simple questions:
(Q1)
(Q2)
(Q3)
(Q4)

Did this course help you understand electric traction drives and their control?
Do you think that you have learned more after the inclusion of this practical session
(when compared to a conventional course)?
Are you satisfied with the simulation platform?
Are you satisfied with the laboratory platform?

Note that Q2 asks the students to compare their current experience (the proposed activity) with an
experience they have not had (such as the previous version of the course). Unfortunately, there is not
enough data regarding the previous version of the course to assess how the proposed activity improves
the students experience by comparing both feedbacks, so Q2 is used instead.
Results for this questionnaire are shown in Figure 11. The students response to the first two
questions is clearly positive, a minority of them preferring more conventional practical sessions.
100%
75%

Q1

50%

Q2

25%

Q3
Q4

0%
Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Figure 11. Student survey results.

Regarding Q3, many students complained the first year about the time required for the simulation
model to run (up to 30 min in an average computer, which was too much for the students to test as
many control strategies as possible). The model was improved in this sense after the first year, thanks
to the elimination of the energy storage part of the model (see Figure 2), thus halving the time needed
to simulate and improving the students feedback in years 2 and 3.
Another flaw pointed out by the students is the number of laboratory platforms available (just one),
which is the reason why Q4 gets the worse feedback overall, especially when the number of students is
large. Some of them suggested that at least a second platform would be needed in order to optimize the
time spent in the laboratory. While this is true, replicating the original platform is costly and may
require the attendance of a second teacher to the laboratory sessions.

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7. Conclusions
A two-level (simulation + laboratory) educational platform has been developed in order to improve
the learning process on electrical traction drives and their control. The teaching methodology focus on
the students interaction with the platform, both the simulation model and the laboratory test bench.
This educational tool is intended to complement theoretical lessons.
In the simulation stage, the students develop their own control strategies/switching techniques.
The most promising results are later implemented in the test bench during the laboratory stage.
The students have the chance of comparing these control strategies not only by testing them, but also
by driving a virtual EV by means of an accelerator and a braking pedal. This methodology has been
tested in a Masters course during three years. Both teachers and students feel that this platform
improves the students understanding in electrical traction drives and their control. Its main drawback
is the limitation in the number of students per class.
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank the students Pablo Vlez, Miguel Hoyos and David Cid for
their contribution to this work. This work was supported in part by the TECMUSA Project
(Plan Nacional de Investigacin Cientfica 20092012, Spain), and by the SEGVAUTO Project
(Convocatoria de ayudas para la realizacin de programas de actividades de I+D entre grupos de
investigacin de la CAM en tecnologas, ORDEN 679/2009, 19 February Ref: S2009/DPI-1509).
Author Contributions
Pablo Moreno-Torres and Jaime R. Arribas designed the educational project and its associated
teaching methodology. Pablo Moreno-Torres established the simulation model and ran the simulations.
All authors contributed to the laboratory platform design and construction. Jaime R. Arribas was
responsible for the students feedback, while all authors participated in the course assessment.
The paper was written by Pablo Moreno-Torres and reviewed by all the co-authors.
Conflicts of Interest
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
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